But by the time the conference ended last Sunday, the student organizers had received five death threats from anonymous callers, the Harvard Police had conducted a security sweep of the conference site in Austin Hall, and 150 students had gathered outside Paine Hall to join a "silent vigil" triggered by one of the conference's speakers.
At the center of the controversy was Deena Abu-Loghod, an employee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), who came to the conference to participate in a two-hour afternoon panel. While marchers outside carried signs denouncing the PLO, the audience inside gave Abu-Loghod a generally warm reception.
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If this is the dawning of the computer whiz kid age, nearly a quarter of the freshman class is unaware of it. These delinquent 359 have not yet fulfilled one or both parts of the Quantitative Reasoning Requirement, which, the Handbook for students says, must be satisfied by the end of their freshman year. Those students who did not pass the last QRR data test last month and those who do not pass the last computer test, to be given today, will be given the option of taking the tests during freshman week next year. Those who do not pass will be forced to enroll in a course designed to fulfill the requirements next semester, or face stiff penalties from the Ad Board.
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An unusually large number of students accepted on a "forced commuter" basis this year have complained to the University.
Showing an increased concern for local students, Harvard this year accepted 41 such student as opposed to 13 last year. Although more than 20 of the students accepted have lodged complaints. University officials said last week they will not change their policy of accepting students on a forced commuter basis.
"None of them are happy." Michael Palm, the senior advisor in charge of incoming non-resident students, said last week, adding. "The reactions rang from disappointed to enraged, and the enraged will likely take residence elsewhere."
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The Democratic Club's newly elected officers are Christina A. Spaulding '84, president; David V. Thottungal '84, vice president; Pauline Remenyi '85, treasurer; and Michael Kremer '85, secretary.